State urges Centre to widen more NHs in western Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The State Government on Wednesday urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to develop more National Highways(NH) in southern and western Odisha.

Chief Secretary AP Padhi placed this demand before the Central Government officers while reviewing NH projects at the State Secretariat with the senior officers of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He emphasised on development of the National Highway from Vizag to Jagdalpur which connects Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh passing through Sunki, Koraput, Jeypore, Nabrangour, Buriguma and Kotpad in Odisha.

Padhi too stressed on expediting works of the Vijayawada-Ranchi Corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand and early completion of Berhampur-Rayagada road development work.

Currently, a total number of 22 NHs are passing through Odisha. The are NH 16, 18, 20, 26, 49, 53, 55, 57, 59, 63, 130C, 143, 149, 153B, 157, 220, 316, 326, 326A, 353, 516 and 520. The total length of these roads in Odisha is around 4,849.42 km. While the State PWD has been assigned to develop 3,387 km, the NHAI has undertaken works for the rest 1462.42 km.

By now, the PWD has completed 867.39 km roads and set a target to complete 489 km roads during the current year. Chief Secretary directed the department to fix monthly targets for completion of works.

Similarly, the NHAI has completed development works of 610 km roads and work for 529 km roads is now underway. The bidding process for around 243 km has been completed and the projects for development 596 km are in the pipeline.
Works Secretary Nalinikanta Pradhan requested officers of the Ministry to sanction the road projects submitted by the State Government. Out of 44 proposals of Rs 1,047 crore submitted, the Centre has given in principle approval for only 12 proposals of estimated cost of Rs 400.97 crore.

Apart from this, Centre has approved two projects of Rs 148 crore under Inter State Connectivity Scheme and two others of Rs 198 crore under the Economic Importance Scheme.

The issues relating to land acquisition, disbursement of awarded compensation, forest clearance and DGPS survey were also discussed.